Every year on March 31, people around the world gather to celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility. The day is dedicated to honoring the achievements and resilience of transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming persons across the globe.
But this day would not exist if not for Michigan State University alumna Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the founder and mind behind the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Crandall-Crocker graduated from MSU in 1985 with a master’s degree in social work. Throughout her time at MSU, Crandall-Crocker became a leader in various social work-related organizations, including the local crisis intervention center where she worked for 25 years. It was this work, on and off campus, that inspired Crandall-Crocker to influence and create change.
“[My involvement at MSU] showed me that I could be a leader and showed me that I was capable,” said Crandall-Crocker. “I really have a lot to thank MSU for. I was shaped into the social work leader that I am right now.”
However, Crandall-Crocker said that it was not until she came out as transgender that she realized just how strong she was.
When Crandall-Crocker transitioned in 1997, her life changed dramatically. Not only did she lose her marriage, but she was fired from her job at a small hospital. According to Crandall-Crocker, “That’s the way it was back then.”
After that, she wasn’t sure what to do, but she knew she needed to do something. In response, Transgender Michigan was born to initially offer support and confidentiality. Crandall-Crocker and her wife, Susan Crocker, launched the organization in 1997 so that other people in Michigan would not have to go through what Crandall-Crocker went through.
Today, Transgender Michigan is a thriving organization dedicated to improving the lives of transgender individuals in Michigan by connecting them to safe spaces and providing a collective hub for information, support, resources and event details. Crandall-Crocker serves as the executive director and Crocker serves as operations director for the organization.
Within Transgender Michigan, Crandall-Crocker launched a transgender help line — the very first transgender help line to exist in the United States.
While the help line has served as a safe space for individuals in the state who are struggling or in crisis, it also has proved to be a tool of comfort. Once, Crandall-Crocker had someone call her on the help line just to tell her thank you. Upon asking if they had talked before, the person replied they had not — but found comfort in knowing that Rachel was there.
Then, in 2009, Crandall-Crocker realized that there was still a gap in the transgender community.
“I wanted a day that we could celebrate being alive! Up until then, the only international day for transgender people was the day of remembrance, a day where we remember out brothers and sisters who were killed just for being trans,” Crandall-Crocker said. “I wanted a day where we could celebrate.”
When the day was first established by posting it across Facebook, Crandall-Crocker was unsure if it would go anywhere. Awareness of the day spread slowly at first. But when she started contacting leaders around the world, she was met with support, and the day took off.
Rachel Crandall-Crocker (right) and Susan Crocker at the South Lyon Pride booth.
Today, International Transgender Day of Visibility is recognized and celebrated world-wide, even in countries where being transgender is still illegal. Groups all over the world recognize and thank Crandall-Crocker for her contributions, including the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings who named her as their Game Changers honoree during their 2023 Pride Month celebrations.
“It’s weird seeing [Rachel’s] name in articles that are written in other languages,” Susan Crocker said.
But Crandall-Crocker and Crocker know this to be proof that people are honoring and observing the day in all corners of the world.
The day was created to generate a sense of family, and it serves as a milestone in LGBT history. Crandall-Crocker said that she never imagined she would create such important pieces of history but is proud and excited to be a part of it.
“I hope that people will gain the feeling of not being alone, that is why I started all of this,” she said. “We are all capable of changing the world. We just have to have the confidence in ourselves.”